按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
A face appeared on one of the side screens； a young flying officer。 〃modore； with all due respect； I must protest！ We were given definite orders by the council to negotiate with Breetai before any direct action was taken！〃
Renquist narrowed his eyes； his jowls quivering。 〃Negotiate； hell！ How dare you？ One more word from you and I'll have you executed for mutiny！〃 At an angry gesture from the modore； the connection was broken。
But it reminded Renquist of another unfortunate aspect of his mission。 As Breetai had guessed； Edwards was too wary to strip REF Base Tirol and SDF…3 of the bulk of his Ghosts and leave himself at risk。 Therefore； nearly half the flying group assigned to Renquist was posed of elements drawn from the various other units remaining after the Skulls had been tapped for duty with the Sentinels。 And the Jokers； Diamondbacks； and the rest were less eager to follow this departure from council instructions。
But Renquist felt he had now seen the enemy's total strength。 After all； there were only slightly more than one hundred Zentraedi altogether！ All he had to do was to make sure the Human numerical advantage was absolute。
The Zentraedi had won in a limited matching； but even after the initial defeat； Renquist could double the odds without resorting to any but the Ghost Riders and surely overwhelm the giants。
He turned to a bridge officer。 〃Launch the rest of the Ghosts immediately and reform the survivors of the first attack wave。 This time we're going to crush those alien scum！〃
Breetai had expected no less。 The Alphas and Betas and Logans thronged at the Battlepods； driving them back or blowing them to smithereens； some of them breaking through and ing for the Valivarre。
The ore vessel's gun batteries and missile racks opened up； but she was a mining craft； not a warship； soon； shots threatened to penetrate her shields。 Breetai noticed that the Ghosts were being very deliberate； shooting for the engines and control sections； seeking to disable rather than destroy。
The pods could no longer protect the ore ship。 Breetai saw a badly damaged officer's mecha； beset by two Logans in Guardian mode； try to ram one of them。 But the Logan avoided the kamikaze run and the two Humans got the pod in a crossfire； turning it into a fireball。
Then they turned and； with others； formed up to add their firepower to the final assault on Valivarre。 Breetai watched them dive in at him； his face like a graven idol's。
CHAPTER FIVE
She was too brilliant not to see the ramifications of her act。 In taking half her race off on the pursuit of the Ultimate Invid Form and the New Optera； she would be forcing her husband to fend for himself in many ways…to confront certain things； to learn certain things。 Things that…it isn't inconceivable…could force deevolution to turn end for end。
One possible motive for this is that there was some love for him in her still。
Gitta Hopkins； Queen Bee： A Biography of the Invid Regis
A low； angry； chainsaw growl from the Hellcat made Cabell glance warily toward the thing； but Veidt seemed not to register its presence。 The Regent reached down to stroke his pet's head； enjoying Cabell's uneasiness。
Cabell had good reason to be wary of the Invid Inorganic mecha called Hellcats。 When the Invid first invaded Tirol； one had tried to tear him limb from limb。
Those sitting on their haunches to either side of the Regent's throne were even larger than the usual； and Hellcats were far bigger than any saber…tooth that ever lived。 They were a glassy indigo； their eyes gleaming like ruby lasers。 They were armed with razor…sharp claws； sword…edged shoulder horns and tail； and glittering fangs。 About their muscular throats were resplendent collars set with gems from many worlds。
Cabell found himself transfixed by the 'Cats' baleful glares； so it was Veidt； looking and sounding serene as he floated there； who spoke。 〃Mighty Regent！ Please accept our gratitude for granting us this moment of your attention。 We know what great demands are placed on your time。〃 He bowed solemnly。
〃You have no idea；〃 the Regent contradicted in his growling； gurgling voice； 〃none whatsoever！〃 His mantle flared and the four…fingered hands balled into fists the size of kegs。
〃So do not flatter yourselves。 I'm reconsolidating an interstellar empire； and you ask me to turn my thoughts to trifles。 Still…noblesse oblige； and all that； I want it known that once I hold the universe in my fist； I will not be an unkind overlord。〃 The mantle pulled back a bit。
Veidt bowed his head but looked unperturbed。
The Regent considered the matter with more caution than he would have admitted。 The conflict revolving around Veidt； his mate Sarna； and Sarna's 〃father；〃 Vowad…if such a concept as parentage could fairly be used with regard to Haydonites…concerned the whole planet。 And it was one of the things that had worked to the Regent's advantage； he mulled。
Brute force was the standard Invid method of dealing with the enemy； but here on Haydon IV that was impossible。 But intrigue； like warfare； was an art the Opterans had acquired after Zor destroyed their idyllic existence。 And so； the Regent knew there were certain games that must be played； and played to best effect。 Thus； this interview。
〃No； you will find me most reasonable and benevolent； as I have been here today；〃 the Regent added； knowing the planet itself was listening。 〃And how goes the healing？〃
Cabell had found his nerve again。 He smoothed his flowing； embroidered robes； shrugged to resettle the high； stiff collar that surrounded his head； and stroked the white beard that nearly reached his waist。 〃Rather well； we think； though it's difficult to tell。 The Haydonites are using a sort of therapy employing their arts of nanoengineering。 Prognoses are good。〃
〃How fortunate for them。〃 The Regent nodded； but he was silently angry that the effects of exposure to Garuda's biosphere hadn't killed the Hunters and the rest。 〃And now that you have brought me this report； you may go。〃 The Regent gestured to his bodyguard mander to show the visitors out。
〃Just a moment。〃 Cabell stopped him。 〃There is the question of my apprentice； the young c